Both Nico and 14-year-old Reagan Strange were on Team Adam, and both faced elimination on Tuesday night (Dec. 4). Both joined country singer Dave Fenley (Team Blake) for the "instant save," a vote that comes after one final performance. The problem is, Strange couldn't sing because she was sick, yet fans were still allowed to save her.

If that ripple in the rulebook wasn't enough to get fans hot and bothered, Levine's remarks after the performances did the trick.

"There is an unbelievably talented little girl right now who is not able to fight for her position on this show," he said. "I have two little girls at home. The thought of breaking [Strange's] heart by not urging everyone to give this girl a shot to redeem herself next week would be too far beneath me."

One imagines Nico standing there thinking "OK, now do me."

Nope.

It was so awkward that coach Kelly Clarkson jumped in to praise Nico and try to lift the bus Levine had just thrown him under. America listened to Levine, however, and Strange won a very close vote to move on to next week.

Outraged viewers turned to social media to vent about the turn of events.

As for Nico, he seems to have found peace.

"You can never take an L when you're operating from your heart," he says in a late-night Instagram post that thanks God and fans but doesn't mention the rocker specifically. "All is well on my end."

The Voice is now down to the Top 8. It's not clear what's ailing Strange, but the pop-soul singer was able to belt out a version of Faith Hill's "Cry" one night prior. In fact, Monday was a good night for country fans, with five performers going country, plus Blake Shelton singing his current single, "Turnin' Me On."